Matches for "Holmes Hanover"

Seventy six lots will be on offer at the Alabar Blue Ribbon Sale on Sunday April 24th and there promises to be a horse for every budget.
Wrappers Delight has stamped himself as one of Australia’s best two year olds with two victories in as many starts to date including his last start win in a heat of the APG 2yo C&G Series.
You will be able to purchase his mother, Charlotte Church, in foal to leading sire Mach Three at the sale.
Another of the highlights will be Golden Showgirl 1:55.9 in foal to Art Major. The resultant foal will be a full sibling to the Group One winner Smooth Showgirl 1:52.3 - $210,149.
Bruce Edward will be selling six lots including mares by Somebeachsomewhere, Rocknroll Hanover Art Major, Holmes Hanover and Badlands Hanover.
Three of his mares will be sold with foals at foot.
Jim Connolly will be selling three mares by the leading sires Pine Chip and Skyvalley. Included among these is a half sister to Australian Two and Three Year Old Trotter of the Year Kyvalley Road.
Jack Munnerly has one entry and she is a half sister to the Group One winner Secret Desire and in foal to new season sire Heston Blue Chip.
There will also be 20 weanlings on offer and these are by such stallions as Art Major, Mach Three, Shadow Play, ,Auckland Reactor Betterthancheddar as well as the first crop stallions Alta Christiano and Caribbean Blaster.
This is a sale not to be missed.
The sale will be held at Alabar Farm and begins at 1pm.
The catalogue can be viewed online (http://bit.ly/1VhBLvg) or please contact us for a hard copy – (03) 5859 2201 or brett@alabar.com.au.

It was a big night for multiple wins at Newcastle on Saturday night and while local horseman Mark Callaghan won three races, the harness racing meeting was dominated by Ebenezer trainer Colin Edwards as he prepared four winners - the first time he has achieved the feat in his career.
All of the winners trained by Edwards were driven by Sydney reinsman Michael Towers and owned or part owned by Ray Cahill.
"It was a big night for the stable and it was very special for all of us, I have trained a treble before but that was many years ago when they still raced at Richmond," Edwards said.
"A lot of the credit must go to Michael (Towers) he drove them really well and while you can go to the races thinking you have a good chance in a few races it all comes down to the performance of your driver."
The final winner on the night for Edwards was six-year-old first starter Behindthebushbarry and the effort on debut was satisfying for the trainer.
"We went to the sales and Ray (Cahill) purchased a Courage Under Fire youngster and the next year we noticed the mare had another yearling for sale but this time by Holmes Hanover.
"I told Ray he better go buy the Holmes Hanover because we wouldn't want to see it win ten and the Courage Under Fire colt not win a race, so he did."
The son of Courage Under Fire was named Aimfire, he had three starts and failed to run a place while Behindthebushbarry spent a long time in the paddock.
"There was nothing wrong with him, we just left him in the paddock and I was very happy to see him win at his first start."
Reinsman Michael Towers has driven three winners at a meeting on two previous occasions but arrived at Newcastle on Saturday and thought he was in for a good night.
"I've just come back from a holiday in Perth and Saturday night paid for the trip it was great," Towers said.
"I thought they all had good chances, Courtsinsession really impressed me though, he is a giant of a horse and when he learns what racing is all about I think he might be a really nice horse."
Courtsinsession is a son of Art Major and was having his first start in a race.
"For a big horse he moves quite quickly, he still has a bit of maturing to do but Col does a great job with his horses and he deserves a night like Saturday."
Towers enjoyed having owner Ray Cahill in attendance which added to the enjoyment for the group.
"Ray was really happy, he was there and I don't think he had ever had more than a double in one night so you can understand why he was pretty excited."
"Col is thinking about taking Rodanthe Nights to the heats of the Inter City Pace and the rest of them might wait until Menangle starts racing again."
Greg Hayes

It is not often in harness racing that a great sire doesn't go on to become a great broodmare sire although the degree of that success can vary every now and again.
In The Pocket has done in the broodmare paddock exactly what he did as a sire, having already won the overall title of leading broodmare sire and being the leading pacing broodmare sire in the season just concluded.
In The Pocket has been first or second on the New Zealand broodmare siring charts for the last five years but is under real pressure going forward to hold off the challenge of one of his sons in Christian Cullen.
Christian Cullen has made rapid progress up the broodmare siring charts in the last five years as more of his mares are bred from, rising from 27th in 2011 to third overall last season and a close second on the pacing list to In The Pocket.
The rise has been startling and Christian Cullen has the same potential to click with champion sires Bettors Delight and Art Major as his sire In The Pocket has done.
Mares by Christian Cullen have only produced 605 foals three year old or older to date which has put him at a major disadvantage against the likes of Holmes Hanover and In The Pocket whose foal numbers are counted in the thousands not hundreds.
However as more and more Christian Cullen mares move into the breeding barn, those numbers will change quickly.
This season there are 180 two year olds in New Zealand from Christian Cullen mares and there are also 184 yearlings from Christian Cullen mares on the ground so he will quickly catch up numbers wise over the next few years.
When you look at the quality of the racehorses his mares are producing, it is no surprise that he has moved up the charts so quickly.
Horses of the class of Ohoka Punter 1:51.1p ($599,013) - Te Kawau 1:54.3p ($131,674) - Express Stride 1:54.3p ($132,395) alongside two of last season's standout two year olds in Lazarus 1:52.9 ($265,562) and Chase The Dream 1:53.1p ($212,026) have helped establish Christian Cullen as an elite broodmare sire.
One thing of note is that all five of the horses quoted above are sons of Bettors Delight.
The best performer produced by a Christian Cullen mare to date is of course Highview Tommy 1:55.2 ($1.021,904) who is also by Bettors Delight.
Broodmare earnings in New Zealand have already topped the $6,000,000 mark while over the Tasman in Australia he is slightly ahead of that with $6,179,816 in earnings to date.
Looking ahead to next years yearling sales, vendors with Bettors Delight progeny from Christian Cullen mares can expect their stock to be keenly sought after by buyers from both sides of the Tasman.
Harnesslink Media

Ararat freelance reinsman Michael Bellman took the honours for the night at the harness racing meeting at Terang on Tuesday June 23 with a driving treble – Babalaas Jack in the Noir Rover 3-Y-0 Pace over 1680 metres, Four Starzzz Fella in the Welcome Computers Pace for C1 class over the same journey and Sheza Party Doll in the Phonse Hickey Memorial Pace for C0 class over 2180 metres.
Babalaas Jack a fully American bred Somebeachsomwhere/Western Tingira colt bred and raced by David Carpenter and trained at Great Western by Michelle Wight, spent most of the race at the tail of the field after starting from the extreme draw.
Despite being five wide on the final bend, Babalaas Jack was too strong at the finish for a most unlucky Mister Chomp which was all set to win approaching the final bend only to go off stride before getting going again in the straight to fail by a head in 2-00.1.
Cheersbigears finished third after trailing the weakening leader Aurelius.
Five year old Four Starzzz Shark/Clarenden Diva gelding Four Starzzz Fella trained at Heywood by Kevin Brough coming off a victory at Mildura on June 12, was given an easy time three back in the moving lane after also starting from the extreme draw.
Moving forward three wide uncovered in the final circuit, Four Starzzz Fella outstayed his rivals to score by 6.7 metres in advance of a death-seating Smoken Fields, with the pacemaker Emma Jade third. The mile rate 1-59.9.
Michael Bellman was to finish the night on a high note after Holmes Hanover/Divine Lustre 5-Y-0 gelding Our Bold Lustre landed the Murfett & Whiting Pace for C1 class over 2180 metres, as he trains the winner.
Using a concession for Denbeigh Wade, Our Bold Lustre began with a rush from outside the front line, but was unable to head off the speedy Jilliby Diablo (gate four).
Taking cover on Our Uptown Girl mid-race, Our Bold Lustre switched down to the sprint lane on straightening to score by 1.9 metres over Jilliby Diablo in 2-02.2, with Destined To Take (three wide last lap from last) third.
Sheza Party Doll a 4-Y-0 mare by Dream Away from Lombo Party Doll trained by Bec East at the Brough property, came from near last at the bell after starting from gate three on the second line to defeat Mister Untouchable which raced parked from the bell by 2.2 metres in 2-01.9.
Dayraid (one/one at bell) finished third after switching down to trail the weakening pacemaker and odds-on favourite Jilliby Passion in the last lap.
Bec East landed a training double at the meeting, when Rocknroll Hanover/Best Of Wine gelding Dancin With Elvis greeted the judge in the Talisman Floats 3-Y-0 Pace over 1680 metres with Jayson Finnis in the sulky.
Starting from gate two, Dancin With Elvis angled away from four back the markers to be one/one for the last lap, before running home strongly to account for Esspee Rockstar (gate three) which galloped away before circling the field to lead at the bell.
Turbo Elly finished third after easing to face the breeze from three back the markers in the last lap. The mile rate 2-01.7.
Four year old Chief Marty/Quintessa Bromac gelding Our Supreme Guy gave veteran Glenburnie (Mt Gambier) trainer Ken Dihm a happy birthday present when successful in the Cooinda Work Crew Pace for C1 class over 2180 metres at Terang.
Driven by local Glen Craven, Our Supreme Guy showed blistering speed from gate five to lead easily as the mobile moved away, before surrendering to the polemarker Nobetterthanthis which moved off his back to assume control.
Using the sprint lane, Our Supreme Guy raced clear over the concluding stages to register a 2.3 metre victory over Nobetterthanthis and Top Trio which followed the pair. The mile rate 2-02.
It was Our Supreme Guy’s 5th victory in 39 outings.
Ken Dihm had enormous success in the nineties with a fabulous mare by the name of Helens Pleasure who won 32 races including several at Moonee Valley and Globe Derby Park.
Dunnstown brothers John and David Murphy snared the Terang Co-Op Trotters Handicap for T0 or better class over 2180 metres with honest 5-Y-0 Armbro Variable/Irish Tess gelding Tommy Kay in a mile rate of 2-08.2.
Coming from 10 metres, Tommy Kay was sent forward by David to park in the open with The Night Wind leading from barrier two.
Gaining cover when Bee Arr Dee dashed to face the breeze at the bell from mid-field, Tommy Kay Joined Bee Arr Dee on the home turn and finished best to register a 13 metre victory (his third) over Veegee Bentley (four back the markers), with Bee Arr Dee holding down third.
Long Forest duo Andy and Kate Gath’s Kiwi bred Bettor’s Delight/We Love To Party 4-Y-0 gelding Party Boy led throughout from the pole to land the Dick & Anne Box Pace for C4 to C5 class over 2180 metres.
Allowed to dictate terms to suit without any challengers, Party Boy was untroubled to win by 7.9 metres from No Bettertime along the sprint lane from three back the markers, with Keayang Storm third after trailing the winner. The mile rate 2-01.1.
Len Baker

Anyone who has studied breeding was confident about one thing when it came to Holmes Hanover and that was that he would do a great job in the brood mare barn.
His fillies were tough hard wearing types who if anything lacked an ounce of high end speed but were wide open on the breeding front to all the Direct Scooter blood prevalent in New Zealand and Western Hanover and his sons.
The clincher for a lot of people was the dam of Holmes Hanover in Hazel Hanover was the best Tar Heel race mare of her time.
Hazel Hanover did just as good a job at stud as she did on the track so confidence was high that Holmes Hanover would equal or better what he did as a sire in the brood mare ranks.
And that confidence was not misplaced as Holmes Hanover has already passed what he earned as a sire with his brood mare earnings recently topping the $26,000,000 mark.
As you would expect there are a lot of progeny in this years sales from Holmes Hanover mares and by a lot of speed sires that we think would suit Holmes Hanover mares.
One of the lots that we think looks well matched is Lot 113 at the Australasian Classic sale at Auckland.
Named Thunderbolt Kid, he is a son of noted speed sire American Ideal from the Holmes Hanover mare, Spirit Of Spring.
She is already the dam of three winners including the very talented Umoja 1:51.1 ($264,620)
The grand dam is the Lordship mare Spirit Of Venus who left the smart racehorse Nketia 1:52.4 ($394,035) and Ciccio Star 1:58.4 ($102,499) as well as the dams of a string of big earners such as Jinni's Fantasy 1:51.4 ($457,586) Fake Spirit 1:59.8 ($184,368) Waltzing With Cullen 1:51.7 ($152,131) and Zenthura 1:56.5 ($117,705) to mention just a few.
Spirit Of Venus ia also a half sister to Burgundy Lass, the dam of the dual New Zealand Cup winner IL Vicolo 1:56.7 ($1,580,948) while a half sister to IL Vicolo in Sparkling Burgundy is the dam of the millionaire pace Gotta Go Cullen 1:55.5 ($1,173,343).
This is the other side of the Black Watch family that Sandy Yarndley had so much success with and Thunderbolt Kid looks just the type to add to that legacy.
Harnesslink Media

Nevele R Stud has had a major influence on harness racing in the Southern Hemisphere since its inception over 40 years ago and that influence continues to this day.
From Live Or Die to Holmes Hanover to anyone of another half a dozen stallions they have stood, a lot of pedigrees in New Zealand have a Nevele R influence.
The up coming sales have a lot of yearlings whose maternal families are almost completely Nevele R Products and one of those is Lot 97 at the Australasian Classic sale in Auckland.
Named Got The Music In You, she is a daughter of of the champion sire Rocknroll Hanover from the outstanding Caprock mare OK Rock 1:56.1 ($168,529) who won the Great Northern Oaks and the New South Wales Oaks on her way to the New Zealand 1999 three year old filly of the year title.
At stud OK Rock has left the very talented Big Dog 1:58.7 ($206,682) as well as Burning Cash 1:53 ($40,555) and the talented filly Mohua 1:57.3 ($75,016)
A half sister to OK Rock in the Live Or Die mare Lets Scoot Franco 1:56.6 is the dam of the southern superstar Franco Ledger 1:53.7 ($487,982).
The grand dam of Got The Music In You is the OK Bye mare Looks Ok who has left five winners to date including OK Galleon 1:53.7 ($125,490)
The third dam is the former outstanding racemare Lancia (10 wins) who went to open class in New Zealand in the late 1970s.
The winners tracing back to her are too numerous to mention but include such standouts as Late Bid 1:57.1 ($506,413) Ohoka Arizona 1:56.2 ($273,499) and Franco Lotsmore 1:56.8 ($271,403).
One thing about Got Music In You is certain and that is her residual value when she retires from the track will be significant.
Harnesslink Media

It is not that often that horses from the central districts of the north island are sent out the hot favourite at the northern harness racing capital of Alexandra Park.
But then Te Kawau is not your normal central districts horse.
Going into tonights race as the warmest of favourites was due in no small part to the outstanding runs he put up last season at three against Locharburn, Sky Major and company.
With two runs back against Cyamach to help him to full fitness, Te Kawau looked very hard to beat and so it proved.
Steadied from his second row draw by driver Zac Butcher in the 2200 meters mobile event, Zac sent him forward with 1400 to go and grabbed the lead off Royal Taz with 1100 meters to run.
From there Te Kawau always held too many guns for the opposition and comfortably held them at bay in the home straight.
Pricillas Girl continued her rich vein of form to grab second after starting from the outside of the second row while early leader Royal Taz was a nose away in third.
Te Kawau paced the 2200 meters in 2:43.71 with closing sectionals of 57.3 and 27.3
It was his sixth win from just 14 starts along with five minor placings and stake earnings of $39,727
When you look at how Te Kawau is bred it is no wonder he is smart.
By the champion sire Bettors Delight , the dam of Te Kawau is Haylin Express, a daughter of Christian Cullen who won $44,438 on the track and Te Kawau is her first foal.
The grand dam by Holmes Hanover is a half sister to the brilliant Agua Caliente 1:55.3 ($413,027) and the ill fated Haylin Fella (7 wins) who died suddenly in Auckland after being sold for big money to Queensland interests.
A big striking looking individual, Te Kawau looks to have come back better than ever and should grace the better four year old races later in the season.
Harnesslink Media

The siring fortunes of the son of Art Major, Major In Art are following those of many sires before him in the harness racing industry.
Off to a slow start with his first crop as 2 year olds last year, Major In Art has steadily made progress with that first crop as 3 year olds.
From a small crop of just 32 live foals eligible to race in New Zealand, Major In Art has now left eight winners with a handful looking above average.
Major Sam 1:54.7 ($85,030) and Ultimate Major 1:58.2 ($38,460) both did well in New Zealand before carrying on the good work across the Tasman in Australia.
The pick of his New Zealand bred stock is undoubtedly Dalton Bromac.
The 3 year old gelding started his career under the care of the Butcher stable from Cambridge in the North Island.
After showing plenty of promise in his first three starts, Dalton Hill was purchased by Brendan Hill of Monkey King fame for a stable client and himself.
Since relocating to the South Island, Dalton Bromac has set the track watchers talking with displays of power and stamina.
Tonight at Addington was just further evidence if any was needed of what an emerging talent Dalton Bromac is.
Restrained off the gate early by driver Ricky May, Dalton Bromac was sent to the front after 400 meters of the 2600 meters mobile race and from there the race became a procession.
Challenged by the unbeaten Wesley Silcox from a lap out, Dalton Bromac simply put the pedal to the metal and cruised home an easy winner with Ricky May hardly moving in the cart.
It was Dalton Bromac's third win from just four starts since joining the Hill barn and easily his most impressive.
Dalton Bromac covered the 2600 meters mobile in 3.13.7, a mile rate of 1:59.8 with a last 800 meters in a brilliant 54.7 and 400 meters in 26.9 without being seriously asked.
Dalton Bromac is from the Holmes Hanover mare in Desiholmes which like most of the Butcher Horses traces back to the outstanding U Scott mare in Desiree.
It is a breed that has left the Butchers plenty of top liners in the last fifty years while Desiree is of course a full sister to Desilu who left Delightful Lady (47 wins)
With Dalton Bromac to fly the flag in Canterbury, Major In Art has a ready made star to promote his siring abilities in New Zealand.
Harnesslink media

This seasons crop of two year olds by Art Major has produced some really smart individuals from his smallish crop of just 85 foals and Piece Of My Heart looked to further embellish that record with a stylish win in the Marlin Transport Fillies and Mares Mobile Pace over 2200 meters at the harness racing meeting at Alexandra Park tonight Friday the 18th of July.
With harness racing in winter being a touch lower key than normal, quality horses at this time of year in New Zealand can be hard to find.
But anyone who saw the Steve Telfer and Chris Garlick trained Piece Of My Heart win tonight would have seen a filly with a big future.
Settling second last from her second line draw, driver Scott Phelan sent her forward three wide with 1200 meters to go and she found the front at the 900 meters mark.
From there she turned the race into a procession, shooting clear on the corner before easing down in the last 100 meters for a comfortable two length victory.
Tonights win was her first in four starts and she has also finished second once for stakes totaling $6954.
She paced the 2200 meters in 2:46, a mile rate of 2:01.4 with closing sectionals of 59.6 and 28.6.
Piece Of My Heart was passed in at last year's Australasian Classic Sale for $17,000.
She is now raced on lease by Miss T M McMullen, L R Campbell, D L Campbell, L J Goldsmith and R S Toman from her breeders Chris and Tina Barlow.
Piece Of My Heart is the fifth winner of the Holmes Hanover mare Highfields Diamond.
This is the Anna Pavlova branch of the famous Coo Doo family which has provided the Grice brothers of Mid-Canterbury with so many stakes and classic winners over the last forty years.
This is a breed that has produced numerous high class fillies over the years and in Piece Of My Heart it looks to have found another one.
Piece Of My Heart
Harnesslink media

Following on from another week's racing the chase for 100 seasonal wins has become that much easier for the Robert Dunn stable. Wins by Florin - Addington Friday and I've Got This - Timaru Sunday, now take the winning tally to 96, just four shy of the ton.
The 4yr old Holmes Hanover mare Florin, was having her first start for the Dunn’s after having been at the Woodend stable for just six days. The manner of her winning performance, winning easing down by 2 lengths, suggests that there is far more in store for her and connections before the winter is over.
At yesterday's Timaru meeting, it was stable junior reinsman Matt Purvis and I've Got This, that looked a very progressive combination over the upcoming season. Having just his 5th race start, the 3yr old Love You gelding was driven confidently by Purvis throughout. While the margin was a narrow half head, this was a perfectly executed drive by Matt, who was recording his 5th winning drive for the season from just 63 opportunities.
From the same family as top trotter Dr Hook (15 wins) and the well performed Moment Of Truth (22 wins), this guy is one to definitely keep an eye for in future months.
Meanwhile in other premiership news:
- Samantha holds a 3 win lead in the junior drivers'
- John is now on 90 wins for the season and a chance to get back to back 100's
- Dexter is just 4 wins shy of another double-century
By Mike Drury (ROBERT DUNN RACING)

Now for the Lombardo final for Jungle Genie
Classy New Zealand-bred pacer Jungle Genie leapt the first hurdle in her quest to win two feature events in the space of eight days when she produced a powerful burst to score a narrow victory in the $30,000 Clipsal And Schneider Electric Pace for four-year-old mares at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Her strong performance boosted the confidence of Forrestdale trainers Greg and Skye Bond that she will complete the double by proving too good for her rivals in the $25,000 final of the Lombardo Pace next Friday night.
Jungle Genie, second favourite at 9/2, overcame the distinct disadvantage of starting from the outside of the back line when she relished the solid pace set by 9/1 chance Loving You. Colin Brown was content to keep Jungle Genie ninth position before starting a three-wide move in the final circuit.
Miss Atomic, the 10/9 favourite, surprisingly was easily beaten out at the start when she was lethargic and lacked sparkle. Stablemate Loving You burst straight to the front from the No. 2 barrier and then was able to withstand an early challenge from Am Opulent.
Miss Atomic slotted in behind the pacemaker and gained a fortuitous inside passage when Loving You, despite the efforts of reinsman Morgan Woodley, drifted off the pegs passing the 450m mark. Miss Atomic then took lead 150m later and Chris Lewis drove her vigorously in the home straight.
But she was unable to hold out the fast-finishing Jungle Genie, who got to the front 120m from the post and won by a head from Miss Atomic, with 20/1 chance Bettor Dreams running on from tenth at the bell to be third, a head in front of Cielito.
The final 800m was covered in 58.5sec. and Jungle Genie rated 1.57.2 over the 2130m. She has been wonderfully consistent for owners Greg Bond, Kevin, Rob and John Gartrell, Andrew Foster and Craig Hampson since arriving in Australia 13 months ago after managing just one third placing from five starts in New Zealand as a three-year-old.
Her 34 WA starts have produced 14 wins and 13 placings and her win on Friday night boosted her earnings to $101,412. She is by Bettors Delight and is the second foal out of the Live Or Die mare Jungle Jane, who raced 43 times for six wins, ten placings and $58,371 in prizemoney.
Im Themightyquinn on target for Queensland
It's all systems go for Im Themightyquinn, who will enter the next phase of his remarkable career when he contests feature events at the annual Queensland winter carnival in Brisbane next month.
The champion pacer rounded off his preparation with a thrilling last-gasp victory over stablemate My Hard Copy in the 2130m Clipsal Powerhouse Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night and he will travel by air to Brisbane on Thursday, with his driver Gary Hall jun. full of confidence.
"I know that a lot of people will think that he hasn't come back anywhere near his best (after a nose victory over Crombie in the Pinjarra Cup followed by a two-length second to David Hercules at Gloucester Park)," Hall said. "But I'm glad that they are sort of writing us off again before we go to Queensland.
"I've got no worries. He'll be excited because it will be a new place and once he gets into a genuinely-run race and is driven the way he likes to be driven, he'll prove his worth.
"There aren't many horses capable of doing what he did tonight. I think that people expect him to just beat those horses easily because they consider those horses are not in the same class as he is. But those horses are hard to beat round here (the 805m circuit at Gloucester Park) when they run a slow lead time (69.9sec.) and then walk around the next half (60.9sec.) and then run a 55sec. last half.
"That makes it almost impossible to come from the back in the field. Around the bend out of the front straight in the last lap I had a good hold of him and he was going pretty much as fast as he can go. That was a quarter in 27.6sec. off the front and he would have gone 27sec.
"I think that in his old age he has got a bit dour. Tonight I just wanted to creep up on the others, nice and relaxed, but he's gone back to pulling a bit. It's always hard to do that (remaining relaxed) when he is out of his comfort zone and they're running 55sec. halves.
"However, I always felt that he was going to win. I was still holding him a bit down the back straight. When we got to the breeze he thought that his job was done. But he knuckled down in the straight when I gave him two cuts with the whip. He dug in as deep as he ever has.
"He's having a bit of trouble in recent races because they are so slow early and are not really genuine fast-class races. Generally there is no pressure put on the leader and he's finding it a bit tough with that. And the way the track is, horses from behind are having trouble getting past the leader when they're running quick times in the last lap.
"I don't think that he's a hundred per cent fit yet. He's come in tonight a bit big, but that's not too much of a worry. He's got a lot ahead of him. He leaves by plane on Thursday and will be on the tarmac for an hour in Melbourne before continuing to Brisbane.
"Once he gets over there he can really tighten up. I have no doubts that he has come back as good as ever."
Champion trainer Gary Hall sen. will remain with Im Themightyquinn and prepare him at Shannon Price's property. Hall jun. will fly in and fly out to drive the nine-year-old in the $60,000 Sunshine Sprint at Albion Park on Saturday week (July 5) and the $100,000 Blacks A Fake Free-For-All a fortnight later. Providing that he performs strongly in those events, Im Themightyquinn will wind up his Queensland campaign in the $40,000 standing-start Redcliffe Cup on August 8.
Im Themightyquinn was favourite at 10/1 on in Friday night's race in which he started from the No. 6 barrier on the front line. He was restrained back to last, while stablemate My Hard Copy, second fancy at 6/1 from the No. 2 barrier, bounced straight to the front for Clint Hall, with Shardons Rocket moving to the breeze after 450m.
Hall jun. started a three-wide run with Im Themightyquinn with 900m to travel and the champion sustained his spirited finishing burst to get up and score in the final stride, rating 1.58.5 over the 2536m journey.
Im Themightyquinn boosted his earnings to $4,468,736 from 56 wins and 33 placings from 108 starts.
Pacific Black proving a wonderful bargain
Baskerville trainer Sonia Zucchiatti and Adam Kirke made an inspired decision six years ago when they outlaid $20,000 to purchase Victorian-bred three-year-old Pacific Black.
Now a nine-year-old, Pacific Black, ended a losing sequence of 27 when he sprinted home fast to score a surprise win at 18/1 in the 2503m Schneider Electric Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
This boosted Pacific Black's earnings for Zucchiatti and Kirke to $167,609 from 16 wins and 38 placings from 122 starts to take his career record to 143 starts for 21 wins, 46 placings and $190,684.
As a three-year-old, Pacific Black won four races in a row in the month of August 2008, one at Shepparton and three at Wagga, before being advertised for sale.
"I saw him advertised on the internet, on the Trading Ring, for $20,000," Zucchiatti said. "He had won four in a row and I thought that was a good enough reason to buy him. He had one start for us and won at Harold Park and now has won five city-class races at Gloucester Park. "
Pacific Black certainly has made the most of the drop-down regulation which enables a pacer assessed M2 or better to drop down a classification every time he has a losing sequence of ten. Pacific Black has gradually dropped down in class and went into Friday night's race as an M1-class performer. He is now back to an M2 mark.
Zucchiatti credits Pacific Black's longevity to racing almost exclusively in stands. His five city wins have been in stands and he has contested a mobile race only twice in his past 50 starts.
"He pulls in mobiles and I've had to restrict him to stands in the past few years," she said. "He is getting old and basically he needs to race back on the fence. He travels better on the fence and if he gets the right run he'll finish thereabouts."
Pacific Black started off the 10m mark on Friday night and Kim Prentice quickly manoeuvred the old gelding to the pegs, with 11/1 chance Telham Lane setting the pace. Pacific Black gained a split half-way down the home straight and he sprinted fast to gain the upper hand in the final couple of strides.
Heez Orl Black bred to be a star
It is little wonder that Heez Orl Black is developing into a smart performer. He is closely related to former champion pacer and highly-successful sire Christian Cullen.
The New Zealand-bred five-year-old is by In The Pocket out of the unraced Holmes Hanover mare Cracker Kate, who is a half-sister to Christian Cullen, who earned $1,249,150 from 22 wins and four placings from 31 starts before developing into an outstanding sire.
Cracker Kate is also a full-sister to Kates First, who had 65 starts for 19 wins, 19 placings and $624,023 in prizemoney. Kates First's successes included the New Zealand Oaks at Addington and the Queensland Oaks at Albion Park in 1997 when she defeated Concorde Lombo. She finished second to Holmes D G in the $250,000 Victoria Cup at Moonee Valley in January 1999 when she finished in front of Our Sir Vancelot, Tailamade Lombo and Iraklis.
Heez Orl Black, owned by Max Grynberg, Bill Paterson, Tony and Ruth Thompson, Dave Kahl, Karen Hall, Frank Borrello and Trudi Spiniello, revealed tremendous pace to score an effortless victory in the Clipsal Saturn Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night. This gave leading trainer Gary Hall sen. the first leg of a double and reinsman Kim Prentice the second leg of a double after an earlier success with Pacific Black.
Heez Orl Black, favourite at 10/9 on from the coveted No. 1 barrier on the front line, had no difficulty in jumping straight to the lead. After a slow lead time of 8.6sec., the tempo increased when outsider Empire Flame began to overrace badly in the breeze and the first 400m section of the final mile whizzed by in 27.5sec., followed by a quarter of 28.8sec.
Gary Hall jun. eased 4/1 third fancy Vapour from the one-out, one-back position to start a three-wide move 650m from home. The third quarter was covered in 29.2sec. and Heez Orl Black appeared vulnerable after such a hectic pace. However, Heez Orl Black revealed sparkling speed and great resilience to dash over the final quarter in 28sec. and win by five metres from Vapour, with Slick Chapel (7/2) running on from sixth at the bello to be third to give Hall sen. a trifecta result in the 1730m event.
Heez Orl Black rated a sparkling 1.53.6 to improve his record to 59 starts for 14 wins, 16 placings and $190,065. He has had 27 starts in Western Australia for eight wins and eight placings.
Macintosh surges from last to first
New Zealand-bred four-year-old Macintosh looks well and truly on the path to many more wins when he impressed with a splendid last-to-first victory in the 2536m Clipsal Pathway Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Produced in fine fettle by veteran trainer Dick Moore, Macintosh, favourite at 6/4, was driven with supreme confidence by Colin Brown.
Macintosh started from the outside of the back line and Brown was quite content to let the Mach Three gelding lob along in last position in the field of eleven. Four Grinners (15/1) set the pace and Brown had Macintosh travelling easily at the rear until Chris Voak started a three-wide move with Barkers Hall 1100m from home.
Brown then followed the run of Barkers Hall and Macintosh exploded to the front 60m from the post to win easily by four metres from Four Grinners, with Barkers Hall three lengths away in third place. Macintosh rated 1.59.2 and took his West Australian record to seven wins from nine starts after having raced ten times in New Zealand for two wins and three third placings.
Macintosh is the second foal out of Style By The Mile, who won once from 17 starts. Style By The Mile is a full-sister to Gomeo Romeo, who earned $340,193 from 13 wins and 12 placings from 52 starts. He was the winner of one group 1 and two group 2 events in New Zealand.
Olivieri consolidates second place
Oakford trainer Ross Olivieri maintained his recent run of successes with a double at Gloucester Park on Friday night and consolidated his spot in second place on the Metropolitan trainers' premiership table.
Olivieri now has trained 54 city winners this season and trails Gary Hall sen. (143 wins), with Greg and Skye Bond in third place with 43 winners. Olivieri's winners on Friday night were Real Hammer and Finbar Abbey.
Real Hammer, a Victorian-bred five-year-old, was second fancy at 9/4 who enjoyed the ideal passage behind the pacemaker and 11/4 chance Well Hello Dolly in the 1730m Schneider Acti 9 Pace before gaining a late split and finishing strongly to beat that mare by one metre, with 6/4 favourite Black Aquila a fighting third after working hard in the breeze.
This gave Chris Lewis the first leg of a double, which he completed with the all-the-way win of Say It Now in the final event.
Real Hammer, a recent addition to the Olivieri stable, has now raced 23 times in Western Australia for four wins and five placings to improve his career record to 12 wins, 14 placings and $100,062 from 52 starts.
Finbar Abbey, driven by Chris Voak, was a 11/2 chance off the 20m mark in the 2503m Clipsal Lighting Handicap, in which former New Zealand performer Robyns Raider dominated betting and was favourite at 5/4 at his first appearance at Gloucester Park.
Punters groaned when Robyns Raider galloped from the outside of the front line and lost several lengths. However, Colin Brown quickly got Robyns Raider back into a pacing gait and the four-year-old surged forward to assume control after 450m.
Finbar Abbey settled down in ninth place before Voak sent him forward, three wide, after a lap to move to the breeze 1450m from home. The eight-year-old appeared under considerable pressure 250m from home when he was not responding particularly strongly to heavy punishment. However, he ran home with dogged determination to hit the front 50m from the post and win by a neck from 16/1 chance Thumpem, who was eighth on the pegs at the bell before finishing fast. Robyns Raider was a close third.
Finbar Abbey, who has won at five of his nine starts for Olivieri, has earned $138,831 from 16 wins and 24 placings from 106 starts.
$400 pacer takes earnings to $96,870
Four-year-old West Australian-bred mare Lucky Joy, unwanted as a yearling before being picked up for a mere $400 at a dispersal sale, boosted her earnings for Raelene and Ian Williams and their son Robbie to $96,870 when she stormed home to win the 2130m third heat of the Clipsal 56 Series Lombardo Pace for mares at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Robbie Williams, who trains Lucky Joy at Henley Brook, drove a typical patient race with the talented sit-sprinter, who started from barrier two on the back line and raced in sixth position in the one-wide line before unleashing a powerful finishing burst, out wide, to hit the front 70m from the post and win by a half-length from the fast-finishing 16/1 chance Ace of Cards.
Hoylakes Firstlady, second fancy at 3/1, had a tough run in the breeze before fighting on to finish third, with the heavily-backed 6/4 favourite My Lady of the Night setting the pace and fading to finish sixth.
Lucky Joy, by Canadian stallion Northern Luck, was third favourite at 9/2 and she impressed in dashing over the final 400m in 28.9sec. Her 30 starts have produced seven wins and 11 placings.
Smooth Caesar is a giant-killer
Giant pacer Smooth Caesar, a generally unfancied 21/1 chance, caused an upset when he stormed home from tenth and last 350m from home to beat 6/4 favourite Pride of Colorado in the 2130m Clipspec Claiming Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The powerfully-built eight-year-old has certainly been a great buy for Marie Bingham, who claimed him for $10,000 last November. Since then Smooth Caesar has won four races and been placed nine times for Pinjarra trainer-reinsman Kim Young, earning $46,985 in stakes to take his career record to 91 starts for 13 wins, 24 placings and $115,039.
Polemarker Heavens Delight (7/4) set the pace from Pride of Colorado in the breeze, with Our Gent trailing the pacemaker and Elite Under Fire enjoying the one-out, one-back trail after having been fastest into stride from barrier five, but being unable to cross to the lead.
Smooth Caesar, who started from the No. 3 barrier, was tucked away on the pegs and did not get into the clear until 420m from home. He was still last at the 350m mark when Young switched him five wide. After a third quarter in a slick 28.8sec., the final section was a considerably slower 30.2sec. and Smooth Caesar burst to the front 50m from the post before defeating Pride of Colorado by two metres. Veteran The Oyster Bar was a half-length away in third place.
Say It Now has the last say
Noted frontrunner Say It Now further illustrated the great advantage of the prized No. 1 barrier at Gloucester Park when Chris Lewis drove him to an all-the-way victory in the 1730m Clipsal and Schneider Electric Westbred Pathway Pace on Friday night.
Say It Now was a well-fancied 7/4 second fancy, but many punters preferred the highly-promising four-year-old Bettor Party, who was favourite at 5/4 despite the marked disadvantage of starting from the outside of the front line of seven.
Bettor Party was wisely eased back to last by Colin Brown, while the lack of any great pressure in the early stages enabled Lewis to rate Say It Now expertly in front, with modest opening quarters of the final mile in the sprint trip in 30sec. and a casual 31.1sec. This proved the decisive factor in the result.
Brown started a three-wide move with Bettor Party approaching the bell and the gelding moved to seco0nd 320m from home and fought on with great determination. But after a third quarter in 29sec. Say It Now was able to sprint the final section in 28.4sec. and just hold Bettor Party at bay to score by a head at a 1.57.7 rate. Leftrightgoodnight tracked Bettor Party in the final lap and ran home strongly to be a close third.
Say It Now, bred and owned by Kevin Charles and his son Kody, is prepared at Hopeland by Kevin Charles and the stallion showed early promise with wins in the 2012 South-West and Country Derbies. He has now earned $90,431 from 11 wins and 11 placings from 51 starts. He is related on his dam's side to former champion pacer Preux Chevalier, who won the 1985 interdominion championship at Moonee Valley, beating Village Kid, before being retired with earnings of $791,331 from 40 wins and nine placings from 53 starts.
by Ken Casellas

The feature two-year-old event at Redcliffe is fast becoming a race of domination. And leading the charge is gifted harness racing horseperson Kylie Rasmussen.
Rasmussen steered talented filly Mathilda Diventa to victory in the Gr.2 $60,000 Garrards Redcliffe Yearling Sale Series No.6 Final defeating Rockstar Rikki and Irockymyworld.
It was the third time Rasmussen has won the feature event following her success with Cha Ching Chaching and Couldntresist.
The victory also provided Club Patron Chris Garrard and his family double celebration, not only is he the major sponsor of the event, he also shares ownership of the winner with his son Daren and friend Steve Hawkins.
“This is a great thrill to win this race, both Daren and Steve are very excited and we can’t thank Kylie and Darren (Weeks – trainer) enough. This is a wonderful concept and it continues to evolve each year and I’m proud to be associated with it, credit to Kerry (Ebert – Club President) and his committee.” Garrard said.
Two years ago, the Garrard family raced Couldntresist with Kylie Rasmussen.
As for the breeders, Burwood Stud, it was their fourth success in the feature with Cha Ching Chaching, Couldntresist, Designer Style and now Mathilda Diventa.
Stud principal Noel Denning and his wife Christine were both on hand last night to witness the victory.
Mathilda Diventa is a filly by Cammibest out of the Holmes Hanover mare Holme Call and ranks as a younger half-sister to Couldntresist.
Burwood Stud also bred the third placegetter Irockmyworld, a younger half-brother to another former winner in Cha Ching Chaching.
“To win this race four years in a row is quite amazing, we’re very proud of the fact that we continue to produce quality racehorses who can win major races like this.” Denning said.
Mathilda Diventa led throughout in the 1780m event before cruising clear over the concluding stages to win by 10m in a time of 2;00.0 with Rockstar Rikki battling hard after racing without cover while Irockmyworld also fought gamely to hold third.
The Darren Weeks trained filly will now start in a heat of the $35,000 QBRED Breeders Classic at Albion Park next Friday night.
The $20,000 Comfort Inn & Suites Northgate Redcliffe Derby was dominated by brilliant colt Bling It On.
The highly decorated colt eased back to last soon after the start before making a midrace move to find the lead, it quickly became a procession there after.
Bling It On defeated Raring To Go and Max Richter by over 21m in a race record time of 1;58.3 for the 2280m event.
The American Ideal colt finished off in 28 seconds with winning driver Luke McCarthy barely moving.
Trainer Belinda McCarthy is now setting Bling It On for the Gold Coast/Queensland Derby double next month.
Bling It On is raced by Harvey Kaplan, the estate of Kaye Kilgour, Sammy Kilgour, Peter & Zilla O’Shea and Alan Fairley.
by Chris Barsby
Racing Queensland

Harness racing buyers at this years All Aged sale in Canterbury held the upper hand right from the opening lot.
Most of the broodmares for sale had foals at foot by such well-established sires such as Badlands Hanover and McArdle but most failed to even make four figures.
Lockerup, the aged dam of champion trotter Sovereignty $678,321 made $5,000 in foal to Monarchy but most struggled to attract interest.
Good examples of that lack of interest would be mares such as:
Keepalert - A Life Sign half sister to Mach Alert $394,945 with a Changeover filly at foot made a paltry $400
High Tops Hanover - A mare by Western Hanover from a Big Towner half sister to Holmes Hanover with a filly by Tintin in America at foot fetched just $700
Cullen Katching - A striking young mare by Christian Cullen from a Western Hanover half sister to seven winners including Pacific Flight 1:51 $562,345 and The Unicorn 1:56.7 $488,524, who was not in foal sold for a touch more at $1100.
The weanlings were much more in demand. Top price went to the stunning McArdle colt from the 13 win mare Lady Toddy who is already the dam of four in 1;58. He fetched healthy $15,500 which in the context of the sale was a great result for the vendors, Nevele R Stud.
Other weanlings to attract interest included
*Changeover / Last Port Of Call colt--$8100
*Monarchy / Lockerup colt--$6400
* Vintage Master / Joyful Holmes colt $6200
*Vintage Master / Supreme Classie colt $4600
*Dali / Tammy Franco colt $4500
For full results click here.
The North Island leg of the All Aged sale will be held at Karaka on May 30th, The day before the Harness Jewels at Cambridge.
Harnesslink media

When former champion juvenile Sensational Gabby managed just one win and one third placing from 11 starts between December 2012 and January this year her harness racing future was in extreme doubt.
She was wrecking her winning prospects by overracing fiercely and hanging and her connections were seriously considering retirement plans.
But astute Oakford trainer Ross Olivieri did not give up the battle and after months of experimenting he has cured her bad habits of pulling hard and hanging in her races and now she has regained all the brilliance which enabled her to win at 23 of her first 27 starts.
She paced generously and faultlessly when she revealed blistering speed to outclass her rivals in the Ray Duffy Memorial at Gloucester Park on Friday night, recording a smart 1.54.8 rate over the 2130m after speeding over the final mile in 1min.53.9sec.
Sensational Gabby now has several feature events for mares over the next two months at her mercy. These include the $20,000 Golden Girls Mile at Pinjarra on April 21, the $35,000 Race For Roses at Gloucester Park on May 9, the $40,000 WASBA Breeders Pace on May 23 and the $30,000 Westbred Fillies and Mares Classic on May 30.
And so well is Sensational Gabby performing that there are plans to set her for rich feature events next summer, including the Fremantle Cup and WA Pacing Cup.
Olivieri is well pleased that Sensational Gabby is now tractable in her races, but he remains tight-lipped about what gear changes he has made to cure her bad habits.
Sensational Gabby was an easing 13/4 second favourite on Friday night when most punters pinned their faith on Soho Valencia, who was a heavily-supported 2/1 on favourite from the No. 2 barrier on the front line.
However, the anticipated battle for supremacy never really eventuated, with Chris Lewis firing out Sensational Gabby from the No. 1 barrier and establishing a decisive early lead on the opposition, leaving Soho Valencia in the breeze, but a couple of lengths behind the flying pacemaker. After a 29.3sec. first 400m section of the final mile Sensational Gabby left the opposition floundering in her wake as she sped of the next quarters in 28.5sec., 27.7sec. and 28.4sec.
Sensational Gabby won by two lengths from Soho Valencia, with almost a length to Code Red (9/1) in third place after he had trailed the leader throughout.
The five-year-old WA-bred Sensational Gabby has now amassed $527,495 from 27 wins and six placings from 48 starts.
Sensational Gabby's win gave Lewis the third leg of a winning treble in consecutive events --- after wins with Shirlz Sensation and Lovers Delight. Lewis almost landed four wins in a row (in the four legs of the quadrella) when Pembrook Henry set the pace and finished second to Erris Lad.
MACHTU EQUALS STATE RECORD
Crack New Zealand-bred gelding Machtu is now a clear favourite for the $200,000 WA Derby on Friday week after his devastating performance to crush his rivals in the Cowden Ltd Derby Prelude at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Machtu, prepared by leading trainer Gary Hall sen., is spot on for the rich classic and he equalled the State record for three-year-olds over 2536m when he rated 1.57.2 in beating Three Blind Mice by almost seven lengths. Robyns C C also rated 1.57.2 when she finished strongly to win a race for fillies last August.
What made Machtu's performance all the more impressive was that he worked hard without cover for much of the way before storming away from his rivals in the final stages with a final 400m in 28.2sec.
After unplaced runs at his first two starts in New Zealand as a two-year-old in December 2012, Machtu has won at seven of his next eight starts. His five WA starts have produced four wins and a fighting second to stablemate Elegant Christian.
Machtu, favourite at 3/1 on, started from barrier four and raced three wide for the first 200m before Clint Hall restrained him back to settle in ninth position. Hall started a three-wide run after 900m and Machtu quickly moved alongside the pacemaker So Ubettabelieveit. Machtu surged to the front 270m from home and careered away from his rivals.
Three Blind Mice, trained by Barry Howlett, was a 19/1 chance who raced without cover during the first lap and then gained the one-out, one-back trail behind Classic American before being shuffled back to seventh at the bell. He finished powerfully, out wide, to be a splendid second. Life Live Fast (66/1) enjoyed an ideal pegs run throughout and fought on along the inside to be third, with Zacharia finishing solidly into fourth place.
Machtu, who has earned $51,038 from seven wins and a second from ten starts, is the fourth foal out of Holmes Hanover mare Letatalk, who managed to win only once from 20 New Zealand starts for stakes of just $3938.
SHIRLZ SENSATION IS ON THE RISE
Four-year-old Shirlz Sensation looks set for a bright career after another outstanding performance to score an effortless victory in the Community Newspaper Group Westbred final at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Starting favourite at evens from barrier two on the back line, Shirlz Sensational was driven aggressively by Chris Lewis before scoring by three lengths from Smooth Caesar (6/1), with the strongly-supported 9/4 second fancy Soho Jackman one and a half lengths farther back in third place.
Oneheart Twofists jumped straight to the front from barrier three and he was joined by Shirlz sensation 700m after the start after a slow 37.9sec. lead time and 30.9sec. opening quarter of the final mile.
The third quarter whizzed by in 28.1sec. before Lewis sent Shirlz Sensation to the front with 230m to travel. The final quarter was covered in a sparkling 27.8sec. and Shirlz Sensation rated a smart 1.57 over the 2130m.
Soho Jackman started from the outside of the back line and did a good job to finish third. He was last 1050m from home before sustaining a solid three-wide burst.
Shirlz Sensation, part-owned and trained by Mike Beech, has turned the corner this season, with his past seven starts producing five wins, a second and a third. He was also extremely impressive last Friday week when he raced without cover before winning by more than ten lengths. He now has raced 22 times for seven wins and three placings for stakes of $58,720.
LOVERS DELIGHT IS GETTING TOUGHER
Lightly-raced six-year-old Lovers Delight, a noted frontrunner, revealed improved stamina and determination when he raced in the breeze before beating the pacemaker Lord Lombo in the $25,000 Pick Of The Little Scrapbooking Clarke final at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Trained at Capel by Andrew De Campo and driven by Chris Lewis, Lovers Delight, the heavily-supported 3/1 favourite, simply carried too many guns for his 11 rivals.
Lord Lombo, a 9/1 chance, was first into stride from barrier two and Lewis then was quite content to allow Lovers Delight to settle in the breeze. After a third section of the final mile in 28.1sec. Lord Lombo looked set to score an upset win. But he was unable to withstand the finishing effort of Lovers Delight who got to the front in the final 25m and scored by 2m at a 1.57.6 rate over 2130m.
Outsider Franco Torres overcame the disadvantage of starting from the outside of the back line when he ran on from eighth (on the pegs) at the bell to be third, a half-head in front of polemarker Benjamin Banneker.
The New Zealand-bred Lovers Delight has raced 22 times in WA for eight wins and eight placings to take his career record to32 starts for 12 wins, ten placings and $170,203. He now graduates to an M3 classification and looks set for many more successes.
BREAKTHROUGH SUCCESS FOR MISSISSIPPI BELL
Four-year-old Mississippi Bell, unplaced at her only seven previous appearances at Gloucester Park, made a significant breakthrough when her Waroona trainer Bob Mellsop drove her to a convincing victory in the 2130m Ross North Group Mares Pace on Friday night.
Mississippi Bell, a 12/1 chance from the inside of the back line, relished the run of the race behind the pacemaker Awesome Desire (13/4) before Mellsop eased her into the clear in the closing stages. She ran on determinedly to hit the front 80m from the post and draw away to beat Awesome Desire by almost a length, with 20/1 chance Mene Jaccka coming from three back on the pegs to fill third position.
Love In The Dark, a newcomer from Queensland, was strongly supported to start favourite at 10/9 on at her WA debut for Byford trainer-reinsman Shannon Suvaljko. She was beaten for early speed from the No. 3 barrier and worked hard in the breeze before fading to finish eighth.
Mississippi Bell rated 2.0.3 and took her record to 28 starts for six wins and one placings for stakes of $33,032. She is by American stallion Riverboat King out of Northern Lights mare Firestorm Whitby and is certainly bred to be a good winner.
Firestorm Whitby's dam Tempting Franco produced five winners, including Typhoon Whitby, who had 46 starts for 17 wins, seven placings and $163,751. Typhoon Whitby finished second to The Kindly One in the $100,000 1999 Bathurst Gold Tiara, won the $60,000 State Sires Series for two-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park in August 1999 and was fourth behind Tupelo Rose in the 2000 Victoria oaks.
Mississippi bell also is closely related to former outstanding pacer Franco Tiger, who amassed $991,387 from 43 wins and 36 placings from 116 starts. Franco Tiger's victories included the 1992 Miracle Mile, the 1992 Australian Pacing Championship, the 1992 Queensland Pacing Championship and the 1993 Treuer Memorial. He also finished second to Westburn Grant in the 1992 interdominion championship at Moonee Valley and third behind The Harlem Boy and Jack Morris in the 1993 WA Pacing Cup.
SPRINT TRIP SUITS CARTERS ROCKET
Carters Rocket, a flop when he led and faded to third behind Wolowitz over 2190m at Northam last Tuesday, appreciated returning to a sprint journey when he scored an all-the-way victory in the 1730m Kennards Hire Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
His one-length win over Ima Grumpy Jasper at a 1.57.78 rate ended a losing sequence of 12, which included only two placed efforts.
Polemarker Im Clean Cut, a surprising 5/4 on favourite after finishing ninth, twelfth and eleventh at his three previous starts, was beaten out at the start by Carters Rocket (second fancy at 17/4) from the No. 2 barrier.
This proved decisive. Colin Brown gave Carters Rocket his head and the New Zealand-bred five-year-old by Elsu sped through the first 400m section of the final mile in 28.7sec. before Brown was able to give the gelding a breather with a leisurely second quarter in only 31.9sec.
Carters Rocket covered the final quarters in 29.8sec. and 28.2sec. and won from Ima Grumpy Jasper, a 12/1 chance who ran on from eighth in the middle stages. Im Clean Cut trailed the pacemaker before getting a clear passage in the final stages to finish gamely into third place.
Carters Rocket, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, won twice from seven New Zealand starts and has been a handy performer in Western Australia where his 38 starts have produced eight wins and seven placings. He now has a record of 46 starts for ten wins, ten placings and $57,931.
Carters Rocket is out of the unraced Pocket Rose, whose full-sister Tupelo Rose was a champion performer who earned $879,867 from 35 wins and 25 placings from 101 starts. Hollywood Rose, a mare by Butler B G, failed to win from 20 starts in the early 1990s.
However, Tupelo Rose quickly developed into a superstar who won several group 1 and group 2 events as a juvenile. She won two group 1 classics for fillies as a two-year-old at Alexandra Park in 1999 before winning the New Zealand Great Northern Oaks, the Victoria Oaks, the Queensland Oaks and Australian Oaks the following year.
Tupelo Rose won 12 races in New Zealand, 12 in Australia, one in Canada and ten in America.
AM OPULENT
Four-year-old Am Opulent, a group 1 classic winner as a two-year-old in New Zealand, took full advantage of the coveted No. 1 barrier at Gloucester Park when she gave a bold frontrunning display to win the 2130m Gannons Mares Pace on Friday night.
Favourite at 7/4 on, Am Opulent was driven with supreme confidence by Ryan Warwick, who gave the mare her head when she dashed over the final 800m in 57.5sec. She won by a neck at a 1.57.3 rate from 15/1 chance Bettor Whitby, who trailed her throughout. Jungle Genie (13/2), a stablemate of the winner, sustained a three-wide burst from last in the middle stages to be a neck away in third place.
Am Opulent, who ended a losing sequence of ten with an easy victory at Harvey at her previous outing, gives every indication of many more wins. She has earned $162,757 from ten wins and eight placings from 31 starts. A winner of three races from seven starts in New Zealand, Am Opulent has had 24 starts in WA for seven wins and seven placings.
She revealed abundant early promise and was successful in the group 1 Caduceus Club Classic for two-year-old fillies at Alexandra Park in April 2012. Her dam Imprint (by Life Sign) earned only $22,622 from three wins and three placings from 14 starts, but she is closely related to Smart Son, who earned $347,805 from 41 wins and 59 placings from 226 starts. He was successful in New Zealand, Australia and the United States.
Am Opulent completed a double in the first two events on Friday night's program for Forrestdale trainers Greg and Skye Bond, who prepared Carters Rocket for his win in the opening event.
The Bonds continued on their winning ways with a double at Kellerberrin on Sunday afternoon when Showstopper and Jungle Jewel scored all-the-way victories.
DASHING CHRISTIAN ENDS LOSING RUN OF 14
New Zealand-bred seven-year-old Dashing Christian ended a losing sequence of 14 when he unleashed a powerful burst which enabled him to get up in the final stride to snatch victory by a nose over 7/4 favourite Mighty Flying Thomas in the 2536m Plscrapbooking.com.au Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Dashing Christian, third favourite at 5/1, started from the inside of the back line and Clint Hall had him in fifth position, three back on the pegs, for most of the race, with Shifting Sand (14/1) setting the pace.
Mighty Flying Thomas settled in tenth place before Morgan Woodley sent him forward after 550m to move into the breeze. After a third quarter of the final mile in a brisk 28.2sec., Mighty Flying Thomas got his head in front with 375m to travel and looked set for victory when he led clearly in the home straight. But Dashing Christian sprouted wings and gained the verdict by the barest of margins after a final quarter in 28.9sec. The Feather Foot (9/2) ran on strongly from sixth at the bell to be third.
Dashing Christian, who had finished encouraging seconds at his two previous starts, gave trainer Gary Hall sen. and Clint Hall a double after they had combined to win the previous event with Machtu.
Dashing Christian, a winner at one of his seven New Zealand starts, raced seven times in New South Wales for seven wins and six placings. He has had 23 starts in WA for three wins and nine placings to take his career earnings to $105,955 from 11 wins and 19 placings. He is then second foal out of Falcon Seelster mare Dreamy Dash, who managed just one win and seven placings from 33 starts for earnings of $17,165.
ERRIS LAD MAKES THE MOST OF DROP-DOWN RULE
The drop-down rule introduced a couple of years ago which enables pacers assessed M2 and better to drop down a grade has proved a tremendous boon for WA-bred Erris Lad, who has returned to winning form three times after receiving this advantage.
Horses handicapped M2 or better drop down a grade after completing a losing sequence of ten.
Erris Lad, trained at Hazelmere by Mike Reed, dropped back from an M2 to an M1 classification after chalking up a losing run of ten when a sound fourth behind Major Fury last Friday week. This enabled the seven-year-old to start from the front line in Friday night's 2503m TABtouch Handicap, an event for M1 and better-class pacers.
Colin Brown took advantage of the front-line draw and had Erris Lad, a 20/1 outsider, poised to strike from the one-out, one-back position, with 3/1 chance Pembrook Henry setting the pace. Erris Lad finished full of running to take the lead 100m from the post. He went on to beat Pembrook Henry by a half-length, with a neck back to 16/1 chance Hez Got the Nod, who finished strongly out five wide after racing three back on the pegs.
Flyalong Falcon, favourite at 5/2, lost his chance by galloping at the start. Mister Sarkozy also galloped and The Pacing Priest broke soon after the start. Flyalong Falcon came from tenth in the middle stages to be fifth before breaking on the home turn and dropping back to finish last.
Erris Lad has been the beneficiary of the drop-down rule three times. His previous victory was last November when having his first start after a losing run of ten. His previous win before that success came after he had also enjoyed a downgrade.
Under the old handicapping regulations Erris Lad would now have an M5 classification. His win on Friday night returns him to an M2 mark.
FLYING START PAVES THE WAY FOR LA PASSIONE
A flying start from the outside barrier paved the way for New Zealand-bred five-year-old La Passione's impressive victory in the 2536m McInerney Ford Pathway Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Darling Downs trainer Aldo Cortopassi revved up La Passione from the unfavourable No. 7 barrier and the gelding quickly charged past polemarker Good Luck Dollar and into the lead.
Cortopassi was able to get La Passione to relax and the 4/1 second favourite coasted through the first two sections of the final mile in 31.8sec. and 30.7sec. before dashing over the next two quarters in 28.7sec. and 29.1sec. to win by two lengths from Black Cracker, who fought on doggedly after racing without cover. Good Luck Dollar trailed the leader and finished a neck away in third place.
La Passione, by American stallion Pacific Rocket, is beginning to realise his potential after arriving in Western Australia about 14 months ago after having had 18 starts in New Zealand for four wins and seven placings. His 21 WA starts have produced four wins and six placings and he should develop into a handy and consistent city performer.
Ken Casellas

Champion reinsman Gary Hall jun. predicted that Im Victorious would be a star on the Australian grand circuit over the next few years after driving the brilliant five-year-old to a superb victory in the $250,000 Yes Loans Fremantle Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
A bold move by Hall to set Im Victorious alight from the rear with a three-wide burst after 650m to race outside the pacemaker and 6/4 favourite Bettors Fire paid handsome dividends when the Michael Brennan-trained gelding surged to the front on the home turn and beat his arch rival by 2m.
This gave the 31-year-old Hall his sixth victory in the Fremantle Cup to equal the record of Chris Lewis in the group 1 event which was first run in 1928.
"Im Victorious is a wonderful animal and, fingers crossed, he can stay fit and healthy for the next few years because he's going to be a very good representative for WA in the major Eastern States races," Hall said.
And now Brennan, who had the task of preparing Im Victorious for the Fremantle Cup less than a month after the New Zealand-bred gelding had finished fourth in the Miracle Mile at Menangle and then an unlucky last in the Victoria Cup at Melton after receiving severe interference, is setting his sights on the $400,000 Nepean Conveyors WA Pacing Cup next Friday night.
"He was a bit flat when he returned from Victoria before he enjoyed a week off relaxing in his own special paddock at Debbie Prentice's Boyanup property," Brennan said. "Debbie does a fantastic job and she treats him like one of her own.
"He then came back into work and was still a little bit flat before he started picking up. His work last Saturday and again on Wednesday was first-class and I was confident of winning the Cup even though he didn't draw a good barrier."
Hall jun. praised Brennan, saying: "Full credit to him; to get the horse back to his best after an Eastern States campaign is not easy. I know, through experience with Dad, how hard it can be. Hat's off to Mouse (Brennan), Lara (his wife) and the crew at Brennan Pacing.
"I'm sure that everyone hoped Im Victorious could do what he did tonight, but I wasn't really sure whether he could definitely do so. I thought that it was the perfect race to attempt to do that (go forward early and into the breeze) and just see where he was in relation to the rest of them ... to see if he could make his own luck.
"A lot of people think that his speed is his biggest asset, but his biggest asset is his manners and his ability to relax when you use him mid-race. He's the complete package.
"I have been very lucky to have driven horses like The Falcon Strike and Im Themightyquinn. We were driving down the Freeway the other day and Dad asked me if I realised how lucky I have been in the game. And I do often sit back and think about it, but while you're still competing and coming out every week you've got to keep that behind you and keep moving forward and upwards.
"I'm sure that one day when it all sinks in and when you've got time to sit back and think about it all I'll appreciate what has happened and I'll appreciate all the support I've had along the way."
Im Victorious was a 5/2 second favourite from barrier four on the back line and he settled down in ninth position before Hall made his pre-emptive strike after 650m. Dasher VC, winner of the Fremantle Cup 12 months earlier, broke into a fierce gallop moments after the start, while Kyle Harper took up the running with the polemarker Bettors Fire.
After first quarters of the final mile in 29.5sec. and 29sec., Harper lifted increased the tempo with a 28.2sec. section. But Bettors Fire was unable to shrug off Im Victorious, who gained the ascendancy on the home turn and covered the final 400m in 28.sec. to beat the gallant Bettors Fire at a 1.56.5 rate over the 2536m.
David Hercules, fourth favourite at 11/1 from the outside of the back line, raced in tenth position before starting a three-wide run (with a trail) 1400m from home. He sustained his strong effort to finish third, a length behind Betters Fire. Hokonui Ben, who enjoyed a good suit, one-out and one-back, for much of the journey, was a sound fourth.
This Time Dylan, a stablemate of Im Victorious, was ninth at the bell before finishing strongly into sixth place. Washakie, third favourite at 5/1, raced in sixth position in the one-wide line in the middle stages before John McCarthy sent him forward, three wide, with 1400m to travel. He moved to fifth at the bell before wilting to 11th.
Im Victorious is still comparatively inexperienced, having raced only 31 times for 21 wins and three placings for stakes of $707,035.
Hall was driving Im Victorious on Friday night for the first time for 22 months. He drove him three times for his first three wins in February and March 2012 and he boasts a 100 per cent record with the son of Washington VC, who has sired the winner of the past five Fremantle Cups (Im Themightyquinn three times and Dasher VC in 2013 before Im Victorious continued the streak on Friday night).
Hall has won the Fremantle Cup six times (twice with The Falcon Strike, three times with Im Themightyquinn and once with Im Victorious). Lewis has won the Fremantle Cup with Black Irish, Village Kid (twice), John Albert, Sandy Bay and Dasher VC.
HEZ THE BART MAN COMPLETES A TREBLE FOR CORTOPASSI
Darling Downs horseman Aldo Cortopassi struck a purple patch at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he landed a treble in the space of 85 minutes.
The 37-year-old Cortopassi completed the treble when he brought veteran pacer Hez The Bart Man home with a spirited burst to score an easy victory in the $25,000 Yes Loans Fremantle Cup Consolation over 2536m. This followed wins with Topnotch Dan and Pure Empathy.
Hez The Bart Man, a New Zealand-bred eight-year-old trained at Oakford by Ross Olivieri, was a 9/1 chance from barrier two on the back line in a race in which the polemarker Sneakyn Down Under was a solidly-supported 9/4 favourite, with Pacific Warrior the second fancy at 4/1.
Sneakyn Down Under set a brisk pace and Cortopassi had Hez The Bart Man poised to strike in sixth position in the one-wide line. Cortopassi started a three-wide move approaching the bell and the gelding got to the front 250m from home before drawing away to win by two lengths from 9/1 chance Danieljohn, who finished boldly from seventh at the bell.
Famous Alchemist (16/1) raced three back on the pegs and did not get clear until very late, when she flashed home to be third, just ahead of outsider Cyclone Mitch, who rattled home from tenth with a lap to travel.
"Hez The Bart Man was going to run second at his previous start (when fourth behind Toretto) before making a mistake with 100m to travel," Cortopassi said. "And I was very happy when I got the call to drive him again tonight. He loves to roll into the race and with a nice even tempo he just keeps going at the one speed."
Sneakyn Down Under faded to finish tenth, while Pacific Warrior raced at the rear and was twice inconvenienced in the final circuit before finishing a creditable sixth. Hez The Bart Man, owned by David and Carolyn Ward, won once from two starts in New Zealand and seven times in Victoria before arriving in WA where his 24 starts have produced four wins and 12 placings. His career record stands at 59 starts for 12 wins, 22 placings and stakes of $146,203.
LORD LEXUS MAKES A GOOD IMPRESSION
Five-year-old New South Wales-bred Lord Lexus showed that he has the ability to maintain a successful family tradition when he scored an impressive victory at his second appearance in Western Australia.
He overcame the disadvantage of starting from the outside of the front line and he was last in the first lap before finishing powerfully, three and four wide, from eighth at the bell to romp home an easy two-length winner over In The Perfect Storm in the 2130m Yes Loans Pathway Pace.
Trained at Hazelmere by Mike Reed and driven confidently by Shannon Suvaljko, Lord Lexus was a 15/2 chance in a race in which polemarker Shnappy (7/4) and Ben Cartwright (5/2 from barrier two) dominated betting. The victory gave Reed a most satisfying birthday present after turning 59 four days earlier.
Ben Cartwright was smartest into stride and challenged Shnappy hard, but unsuccessfully, for the lead over the first 350m. This resulted in a particularly fast lead time of 35.5sec. and left Shnappy and Ben Cartwright susceptible to horses who had comfortable passages at the rear.
Gary Hall jun. finally got Ben Cartwright to the front 250m from the post, but the four-year-old was a sitting shot. Suvaljko drove Lord Lexus to the front with 100m to travel and the gelding scored by two lengths from 9/2 chance In The Perfect Storm, who started a three-wide burst from the rear approaching the bell and was tracked by the winner, who rated 1.57.7.
Ben Cartwright held on to finish third and will pay to follow. Shnappy wilted to finish fifth.
Lord Lexus, by Bettors Delight and out of Panoramic Lady, has raced only 17 times for four wins, nine placings and $25,063 in prizemoney. Panoramic Lady had 50 starts for ten wins, ten placings and $29,594.
Lord Lexus is a half-brother to outstanding performers Make Me Smile (678 starts for 34 wins, 14 placings and $517,518), Cant Bluff (60 starts for 21 wins, 21 placings and $281,348) and Lady Lexus (54 starts for 25 wins, 17 placings and $316,518). Make Me Smile won the New South wales Derby at Harold Park in April 2005 before finishing third behind Innocent Eyes in the Chariots Of Fire the following January.
MACHTU STAKES HIS CLAIM AS A WA DERBY PROSPECT
Lightly-raced gelding Machtu is the latest in an ever-increasing army of talented three-year-olds trained in Serpentine by Gary Hall sen. to emerge as a strong prospect for the rich WA Derby in April.
Machtu, a winner at three of his five starts in New Zealand, made a stylish Australian debut at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he was favourite at 3/1 on and worked hard without cover before winning the 2130m Yes Loans Three-Year-Old Pace by three lengths from fast-finishing stablemate Eyre Crusher (22/1), with two lengths to the pacemaker Hugh Victor (6/1) in third place.
Morgan Woodley jumped polemarker Hugh Victor straight to the front before being tackled hard for the lead by 84/1 outsider Crimson Floyd. The lead time was a fast 35.8sec. and after 500m Matt White gave up his quest for the lead and slotted Crimson Floyd to the pegs to follow Hugh Victor.
This left Machtu in the breeze and Woodley gave Hugh Victor a much-needed breather with a 32.8sec. first quarter of the final mile, followed by a 30.9sec. quarter. Hugh Victor then sped over the third 400m section in 28.1sec. and the final quarter went by in 28.8sec. Machtu got on terms with Hugh Victor 550m from home before gaining a narrow ascendancy on the home turn.
Eyre Crusher rattled home from last at the bell to deprive Hugh Victor of second placing. The winner rated 1.58.2 over the 2130m to take his record to six starts for four wins and $23,518 in prizemoney. His dam Letatalk (by Holmes Hanover) managed just one win, one placings and $3938 in stakes from 20 starts.
"He was purchased for 'a bit of money' and with that sort of record in New Zealand you would expect him to come here and show something," said reinsman Gary Hall jun. "He's worked up very nicely at home and is a really nice horse to drive. He does everything you want him to do and is very versatile.
"So that's why we chucked him in at the deep end straight away and he's come up with the goods. I thought that we were in a little bit of trouble early. I don't think he's got a hell of a lot of gate speed, and there was plenty there from a few unexpected ones.
"I think that Hugh Victor would have been pretty hard to beat (had it not been for the spirited early challenge). We planned to sit outside of him, quietly, until the 900m and then apply a bit of pressure. But we might have struggled to get over him, based on his run, after what he had to do early."
OUR AMAZING ART'S WIN REVIVES HIS FORM AS A TWO-YEAR-OLD
As a two-year-old Our Amazing Art won at Addington from The Gold Ace and then finished a head second to Our Major Mark in a group 1 $80,000 feature event. The Gold Ace has now amassed $1,028,621 from his 19 wins and 12 placings from 52 starts and Our Major Mark has earned $645,935 from 22 wins and 20 placings from 70 starts.
Our Amazing Art, now a six-year-old, went into the M0-class 2130m Yes Loans Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, favourably drawn at barrier two on the front line and at the gift price of 11/2.
Punters who took into account his form as a juvenile in New Zealand and his splendid record as a pacemaker were on good terms with themselves when Shannon Suvaljko got Our Amazing Art past the polemarker and 9/4 favourite Justlikelindt and into the lead 50m after the start.
Suvaljko then rated Our Amazing Art expertly in front and the Artsplace gelding strolled to victory by 4m over Justlikelindt, rating 1.57.4 to boost his record to 59 starts for 11 wins, 12 placings and stakes of $108,907. This ended a losing sequence of 12, stretching back to last May when he was successful at Penrith.
Our Amazing Art, prepared at Wanneroo by Debbie Padberg, had put the writing on the wall the previous Friday night when he sat behind the pacemaker Rocky Marciano and finished second to that pacer over 2536m.
"Last week he raced over 2536m and he's a bit suspect over that distance," Suvaljko said. "He can't get hoppled during the week and I'd like to thank Isaac Edwards, who does all the work with this horse.""
Last-start winner Tuxedo raced three wide for the first lap before getting to the breeze before he faded to finish ninth. Justlikelindt was blocked for a clear passage in the final lap.
"Tuxedo was coming around them, so I had to make him do some work, and down the back I've made them run (with a third quarter in 28.6sec.) and I had them all off the bit," Suvaljko said. "We had Justlikelindt on our back and so I had to hold him back in a pocket for as long as possible."
TOPNOTCH DAN GETS HOME AT 67/1
Aldo Cortopassi made the most of the opportunity to drive veteran pacer Topnotch Dan for the first time when trainer Ross Olivieri's No. 1 driver Chris Lewis opted to handle stablemate Lord Coburn in the 2130m Yes Loans Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Topnotch Dan, a Tasmanian-bred nine-year-old and rank outsider at 67/1, caused a major upset when he finished solidly from sixth at the bell to win narrowly from fast-finishing pair Menelaus of Sparta (46/1) and Lisharry (17/1).
Most punters pinned their faith in noted frontrunner Real Hammer, who was resuming after a spell and looked a certainty from the prized No. 1 barrier, particularly after a dashing Byford trial win the previous Sunday.
Real Hammer set the pace and after the first two quarters of the final mile in moderate 29.6sec. and 29.5sec. he looked set for an easy victory. The third section whizzed by in 28.9sec., but Real Hammer then began to show signs of wilting. Topnotch Dan, who had enjoyed an ideal sit in the one-out, two-back position (behind Lord Coburn in the one-out, one-back position), started a three-wide burst after the bell. He went four wide at the 400m and hit the front 50m from the post.
Lisharry, who started a three-wide run at the 900m, was forced five wide passing the 400m and he finished determinedly. Menelaus of Sparta impressed in charging home from eighth at the bell to snatch second place.
Topnotch Dan, owned by Lloyd and Judith Whish-Wilson of Launceston, had been unplaced at each of his seven starts in his current campaign and had a losing sequence of 13. After extending his losing sequence to ten late in November, Topnotch Dan's classification went from M2 to M1 under the drop-down regulation. He now moves to an M2 mark again.
He won 13 races in Tasmania and one in Victoria before arriving in WA where he has raced 41 times for four wins. He won a group 3 $30,000 classic for two-year-olds in Hobart in July 2007 and is one of seven winners out of the unraced Torado Hanover mare Shansue Mod. Topnotch Dan now has earned $182,921 from 18 wins and 32 placings from 105 starts.
GDAY MATE'S WIN SURPRISES HIS TRAINER-DRIVER
New Zealand-bred five-year-old Gday Mate, whose previous five wins had been in stands, caused an upset in the 2536m mobile Yes Loans Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he stormed home from the rear to snatch victory at 20/1.
It was a win which surprised the gelding's trainer-driver Justin Prentice, who gave him little chance against several smart rivals, including J Walker (7/2), Hokuri Handrail (5/4) and Franco Renegade (7/1).
Hokuri Handrail (Gary Hall jun.) was kept under pressure in front, with Franco Renegade pulling hard in the breeze and having his head in front for much of the way.
Gday Mate raced in ninth position before sustaining a spirited finishing burst to get to the front in the final 30m to beat J Walker by a metre, with Hokuri Handrail a metre away in third place. Franco Renegade wilted to finish seventh.
"I didn't think Gday Mate was going to get over J Walker," the 25-year-old Prentice said. "J walker has been flying and was in the one-out, two-back position, leaving us with a lot of ground to make up. At the 400m Gday Mate was making up a lot of ground and I thought we were a chance turning for home. But half-way down the straight I didn't think I was going to catch J Walker. So he's done a massive job to fight out the finish and put his head in front."
Gday Mate, owned by Shannon Prentice, Mark Conlan, Clive Berryman, Peter Kennedy and Ross North, has done all his racing in WA where he has had 71 starts for 20 wins, 34 placings and $239,550.
BRONZE SEEKER BREAKS A LOSING SEQUENCE OF 16
A switch from mobile racing to a stand did the trick for New Zealand-bred five-year-old Bronze Seeker, who recovered from a tardy start to record a smart victory in the 2503m Yes Loans Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The win ended a frustrating run of outs and a losing sequence of 16, stretching back to his narrow win over Red Salute in the Manea Classic at Bunbury last March.
Bronze Seeker, whose previous nine starts had been in mobiles, galloped out for a few strides from the inside barrier on the front line and settled down racing without cover five lengths behind the early leader Balleybofey. Bronze Seeker then was able to gain the one-out, one-back trail 600m after the start when Shannon Suvaljko sent Adda Paternal Suit forward and into the breeze.
Bronze Seeker, favourite at 2/1, gave a fine example of his sit-sprint ability. After a 28.3sec. third quarter of the final mile, Bronze Seeker sprinted over the final 400m in 27.9sec. and got to the front in the final couple of strides to beat Balleybofey by a head, with two lengths to Adda Paternal Suit in third place.
After winning 11 times from 26 starts in New Zealand, Bronze Seeker, a son of Mach Three, was purchased by Ian Sermon, Lee Bunney, Ross Waddell, Ken Casellas and Tracey Sermon and now the gelding has had 34 starts in WA for Bickley trainer Peter Anderson for four wins and eight placings.
"Credit is due to Peter," said reinsman Morgan Woodley. "He's had Bronze Seeker spot on for a long time, but the horse hasn't had any luck and this had all of us pulling our hair out. Bronze Seeker found the line strongly tonight and should win a couple more."
PURE EMPATHY
Smart New Zealand-bred mare Pure Empathy made the most of the coveted No. 1 barrier at Gloucester Park when Aldo Cortopassi drove her to an effortless all-the-way victory in the first heat of the 2130m Yes Loans Im Themightyquinn Mares Pace on Friday night.
"She's been going great this whole campaign," said Cortopassi. "All she needed was a good draw. She won pretty easily and went to the line with the plugs in. I never really asked her for an effort."
Pure Empathy, trained at Pinjarra by Brad Groves, was favourite at 9/4 and she was able to amble through the first two 400m sections of the final mile in 31.7sec. and 31sec. before sprinting over the final quarters in 28.8sec. and 28.7sec.Millies Girl (25/1) trailed the leader all the way and finished just more than a length behind the winner in second place. Corza Commotion (18/1) raced three back on the pegs and got clear in the late stages to flash home into third place.
Pure Empathy, owned by Brad and Kelly Groves, Laurie and Valerie Groves and Kalina Brew, has had 56 starts for ten wins, 18 placings and $76,230.
MAGGIES MYSTERY PROVES TOO GOOD FOR HER MALE RIVALS
West Australian-bred five-year-old Maggies Mystery, the only mare in the 1730m Yes Loans Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, proved too speedy for her ten gelding rivals when Kim Prentice drove her to an all-the-way victory.
Favourite at 5/4 on, Maggies Mystery, trained at Burekup by Colin Reeves, made full use of the prized No. 1 barrier and was able to withstand constant pressure applied by Cool Johnny and go on and win by a nose from 13/1 chance Rocky Marciano, with 2m back to 6/1 chance Heez Orl Black in third place.
Maggies Mystery sprinted over the final 400m in 28.3sec. and rated 1.56 in taking her record to breeder-owner Kim Marsh to 59 starts for 12 wins, 16 placings and $133,155.
"I didn't really have any concerns mid-race when Cool Johnny was applying pressure in the breeze," Prentice said. "She was always under control. Down the back they were coming four and five wide and she took a little bit to get going. But when I pulled the deafeners she knuckled down and did the job.
"Morgan (Woodley) had me 20m out when Rocky Marciano was definitely in front. But to Maggies Mystery's credit she kicked to regain the lead. Maggies Mystery is a beautiful horse to drive and she will keep earning."
by Ken Casellas